Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-09-02
ATeSas Veteran Burned to Death.


DENTON, TEX, Aug. pa very disas-
trous IRE occurred here at > O'Clock this
morning in which Colonel 4. J. Hitch
cock, an Old and well known Texas
vctersn, lost MS life. The Ire originated
in the kitchen OF the James hotel on Oak
street, recently kept bv S. ". Keeton,
but for the last few days by young man
by the name OF Robert Fain it was dis
covered by a. W. Robertson, Gso ,boarder
CT the place, who at once raised the
alarm, but being cripple, was unable to
make any effort to subdue the flames
The hotel occupied the second story Of
two brick business houses, and had two
stairweys, one running up on the outside
and another, not used, leading down into
one Of the business houses. The pro
prietor, Mr.. Fein, examined the condition
Of the fire and pronounced it beyond con
trCI, and notified the guests Of the fact
Mr. Robinson, who occupied the same
room as Colonel Hitchcock, says that he
aroused him up and told him where the
fire was, ard that the way Wss clear TO
the outside stairway, and that while he
was throwing trunk out OF the window
that Hitchcock started out, and that he
followed soon sitter him, but did not see
him enY more. Reaching the street and
not seeing him any more, and know
ing that he was old and infrm, he
sent man to search the rooms
to see if he had lost his way or had been
overcome with the SMOKE. Search was
made in every room except where the
names were already raging and he was
not found, and it was supposed that he
had come down the stairs and disappeared
in the crowd. In few minutes the build
ing Was wrapped IN flames end in g short
time converted into hesp OF ruins. 1t
was not until after daylight that the ta,e
Of one Of Texas true and tried sons was
! known. AS nothing could be heard Of
him it was decided that he must have
been lost IN the building. Search was
made for the body, and 81 , O'Clock p. m.
| this evening it was found, and
it Wss then discovered that he
had gone down the stairway which lead
into one Of the business houses below,
and the door at the foot Ct the stairs be-
ing locked was then caught and peIished
! in the flames. Colonel Hitchcock was
| one Of the survivors Of the Fannin
massacre at Goliad, in March, 1897. He,
there, with two or three OF his comrades,
eluded the red hand Of Mexican
| vengeance, but last night he was met and
surrounded by more terrible enemy
than he had encountered at Goliad-in
but few feet of frieIds-who knew
nothing Of his trouble and was forced to
| suCCumb.
The sad affair is very much deplOrC d
here. The movable goods were taken out
Of the room, and there was plenty of time
to have taken the Old man out safe and
sound, but as the stairway leading abO' e
! had not been used for some time nobody
thought of opening the door leading above,
/ and it was also feared the flames would
come down the stairway. Calonel A. j,
! Hitchcock was about s6venty-three years
of age, was native OF Georgia, and was
q member of DIR. Jack ShaCkletord's
company, Fannin's command, in the
Texas revolution. After the massacre
at Golisd ne raised company and fought
through the war of Texas revolution with
distinction. He has no relatives living in
this part of the country, but has g good
deal Of property, principally in land etc,
mere and in other parts Of the state. The
matter OF the cause and origin Of the tire
is now under consideration before Squire
Withers The losses TO property is as
follows: B. z. Hunt, Eufala, l. T, build
ing, worth $1,000; insured in the Pennsyl-
vania for $500. Kimbrough &
Howe, Alabama, Brown Block, only
slightly damaged; insured for $1,000.
f. Fitzgerald, livery stable, damaged
$500, partly insured Robert Fain, furni-
ture, insured at S525-total loss but value
not given; B. & j. T. Gidcunt, sgricul-
tural implements, damage covered by in
surance; Scotch American Loau Asa0cis-
ton building, loss $500, insurance not
known; Lone Star Nursery Co., slightly
damaged, covered by insurance.